Podcast: https://bit.ly/3LgooOp
When I ran my first post for this week through AI editing, it gave me a couple of warnings:
- Introverts legitimately need alone time to recharge.
- Some couples genuinely thrive with more independence.
- Too much time together can inhibit personal growth.
So let’s explore these a bit.
My wife is an introvert. My son is a hard introvert. I understand being an introvert as much as a non-introvert can. I work to accommodate my wife’s legitimate introvert needs. I have learned to “fly under the radar” as she puts it, giving her needed space and quiet. So most of the time, being with just me is nearly as good as being alone. I also have a couple of regular things out of the home that give her real alone time. We managed nine months on the road in an RV without her suffering.
The second one is trickier. “More independence” means less interdependence. It means less time together. Yes, some folks do thrive this way, but do their marriages thrive? Studies find that marriage health is correlated with the amount of quality time couples share. God called us to be one flesh. That’s really, really close! I think too much “independence” gets in the way of what God intended. Being so independent you’re functionally roommates isn’t what we are called to!
As for the last one, I find the exact opposite to be true in our marriage. We are both very much about what the other wants to do. We support and encourage each other’s goals and growth. If we weren’t proactive about this, and generous about what growth may require, I could see it being an issue. But if your approach is good, it won’t be a problem.
~ This is Paul, and Doing Marriage Well requires doing it together!
I finally got a picture of the dromedary.
Yes, we have a dromedary a few miles from us. It’s on a personal farm with llamas and sheep. It’s been there at least a decade.
Image Credit: © Paul H Byerly created with ideogram.ai & Paul Byerly
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